Lung CA diagnosis and treatment

Question 1

tests used to diagnose lung CA

Answer 1

chest x-ray, biopsy (sputum, bronchoscopy, needle biopsy, surgery)

Question 2

Differences in staging for non-small cell vs. small cell lung CA

Answer 2

non-small cell CA: tumor, lymph nodes, and mets
small cell: limited vs. extensive. limitied means only on ipsilateral hemithorax; extensive is any disease beyond the ipsilateral hemithorax

Question 3

What is the significance of staging?

Answer 3

helps predict outcomes, esp. if we’re using histological staging
Stage I-IIIa have surgery as an option. Stage IIIb and IV will require chemo and radiation but surgery isn’t an option.

Question 4

What is the role of chest CT in diagnosis of lung CA

Answer 4

helps look at lung parenchyma. calcification suggestions its not cancer.

Question 5

what is PET

Answer 5

isotope is injected and taken up by hypermetabolic cells. also good for metastic spread to lymph nodes and body. false positives seen when a non-malignant process is hypermetabolic; false negatives seen with tumors under .8 mm or too slow growing.

Question 6

In terms of lymph node involvement, what feature is most predictive of outcomes?

Answer 6

location/level of lymph node more predictive than nubmer of lymph nodes involved.

Question 7

What kind of therapy is best for pts with fully resceted stage IB-III non small cell CA?

Answer 7

platinum-based